(I don't know which category under Cloud 9 Spa Balcony it was).

Balcony was neat but ended up not spending much time out there due to bad weather on first sea day. Bed was comfortable; shower had good pressure; couch was OK; pretty much met expectations for a decent balcony room. They give you nicer towels (nice) and some special toiletries (didn't care).

Dolphinaris ("Dolphin Swim with Unlimited Food & Drinks"). Told in morning that all non-dolphin activities were unavailable due to weather (not really thrilled about this). Long wait for taxi; short ride; madhouse getting in; incredible experience with dolphins when we got in the water; seemed very non-rushed (felt like we got a lot of time in the water after all); average buffet lunch; somewhat sketchy cash-under-table discount on picture package; pictures are INCREDIBLE. Short cab ride back to port.

Belize: Sharks, Rays, Barrier Reef Snorkel & Island Escape. Madhouse waiting for tender. Ride to Belize City, short walk to adjacent pier, grouped up, boarded smaller boat. Very uncomfortable ride out past Caye Caulker to barrier reef. Crew nice, entertaining and engaging. Snorkel sets were of decent quality. Got in water, guided snorkel one way to pickup along reef; guides coaxed out a Moray Eel for us to look at. Good coral, nice fish. Got back on boat, moved to grassy area where nurse sharks and stingrays come out to be fed; everybody but wife got back in water; enjoyable time there (stingrays are friendly and curious; nurse sharks mostly hang out under boat and seem a little skittish; guide got one out and held it for people to see). Then back to Caye Caulker for lunch at &quot;the split&quot;. Wife can't stop raving about her lunch (seafood); I had a traditional chicken stew; kids had boring kids' meals. Nice place to hang out for an hour; son and I did the jump off the big platform; VERY hard to swim back around into cove (strong current here!). Back on boat, short visit to a 'hole' on backside of caye where juvenile tarpon hang out; nice display of jumping fish; then long ride back to BC; almost immediate trip back to tender and back to cruise ship.

Roatan: Extreme Zip-line & Beach Adventure. After doing a little research ahead of time I learned this was all going to be in the captive port; but it turned out to be a very good day. Zipline started early; very uncomfortable but short truck ride up steep dirt road; then 5 or 6 long ziplines that were a lot of fun. Seemed very safe, nice scenery. On last zipline, you end up in the top of the bar down at the beach, and the volleyball players tossed me up a ball which I spiked (hooray!). Family took skyride back to shops area (skyride is very nice but very slow; make sure you have sunscreen or cover!); son and I walked back to zipline base to get out stuff; walked back to shops; we all changed; took skyride back; and went to beach.

The beach vastly exceeded expectations in that it was actually nice sand, nice water, and the food and drinks weren't any worse than any US beach town would provide. Had a plenty good time here, and there was even decent snorkelling way down at the far end (healthy coral and some fish). Sky ride back in again and then let the wife shop for a couple hours and then back on boat. Overall this was my favorite day but the wife liked Belize better; all 3 were above par from what we picked on the last cruise.

Back on boat, short visit to a 'hole' on backside of caye where juvenile tarpon hang out; nice display of jumping fish; then long ride back to BC; almost immediate trip back to tender and back to cruise ship.Got back on boat, moved to grassy area where nurse sharks and stingrays come out to be fed; everybody but wife got back in water; enjoyable time there (stingrays are friendly and curious; nurse sharks mostly hang out under boat and seem a little skittish; guide got one out and held it for people to see).

Carnival Vista Review

Fun but flawed

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Cabin Review

Cloud 9 Spa Balcony

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